Storm Fiona poses threat for Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Fiona is buffeting the Caribbean’s easternmost islands, and forecasters warn it will later threaten Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with dangerous heavy rains. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Fiona is then likely to become a hurricane near the Bahamas next week. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lester in the eastern Pacific is moving toward a Saturday landfall on Mexico’s southwestern coast. The hurricane center says Fiona will be near Puerto Rico on Saturday and could drop up to a foot of rain in places. The storm is forecast to cross the Dominican Republic on Monday, with rainfall of up to 16 inches possible. That much rain could cause flash floods and mudslides in higher terrain, and life-threatening surf was possible from Fiona’s winds.